Forward Focusing

I still have many issues with which to deal regarding Sunday’s incident. A quick update about me: I’m alive, I still am unable to walk/drive; I still move very slowly; I still hurt a lot (including parts of my body which hadn’t hurt previously). Big thanks go out to my friend John (aka HamWithCam) who came to my beck and call to take me to my primary care physician, and to ITP-Betsy for coming over with dinner (SoBa, yum!) and watching Top Chef with me. My apologies to anyone who expected to see me at Bike Maintenance Night as I didn’t make it.

As the week goes on (today is Thursday, right?) and it appears that I’ll be missing the entirety of this work week I am going to try and focus on the future rather than issues of the past.

A Long List Of “To Do”s
Today I need to tackle some of outstanding issues in my life. I have a whole folder full of paperwork which needs my attention very soon so I’ll be focusing on those items in addition to the open issues tied to Sunday’s wreck.

iPad 2? iPad 2? Yes please!
Unfortunately I was unable to follow yesterday’s Apple announcement. Go ahead, take away my Apple Fanboy card. I’m catching up today by listening to some of the tech blogs and am liking what I am hearing. Truth be told I don’t think that I can justify the cost of another iPad in my life and I am not one to be able to sell my current devices in planning for future purchases. I’ll have to wait and see…

One more thing…. I still can’t understand why people need/want a camera on the iPad. So many people downplayed the original iPad because it didn’t have one.

ITP Flickr Pic
Nothing today, sorry.

I’m Weening Myself From Groupon, But I’m Considering Today’s
Today’s Atlanta Groupon deal is 52% off of food from Tin Drum Cafe (selected locations only). I have been a frequent eater at the Tin Drum near my office so I am contemplating jumping on the offer. The only issue for me is that the entire $25 has to be used in one shot, so I’d be required to get someone (if not two someones) to join me and split the bill.

RealiTV Update: Top Chef – Family Edition
We’re down to five cheftestants on Top Chef which means it’s time to bring in the family units to tug at our heartstrings, as well as eliminate one more cheftestant so the show can be moved to another location for the Final Four. One of these days I am going to run into Richard Blais somewhere and ask him how long of a hiatus occurs between the ending in the initial city and the starting in the finals city. Whoops! SPOILER!!!.

For last night’s QuickFire Challenge the cheftestants got a surprise visit from Padma at the Chefs’ Pad and were told that they’d be heading to Ellis Island (which some say belongs to New Jersey) on a ferry. What they didn’t know was that all of the cooking for the QuickFire Challenge would take place using only items found on the ferry, nor did they know who the guest judge would be. Upon arriving at Ellis Island the cheftestants where (re)introduced to Dan Barber (who, coincidentally was the chef about whom I read in Chef’s Story yesterday) who was the guest judge. Most of the five dishes produced for the QuickFire looked horrific. Carla was the winner with an “orange salad” which as Blais discounted as “sliced oranges with dried (candied?) fruits.”

For the Elimination Challenge the cheftestants were to cook meals which were inspired by their families’ genealogy. According to immigration records it appears that cheftestants Antonia and Mike I are long-lost cousins. Each cheftestant outdid him/herself. Unlike in episodes past not a single dish appeared to be flawed. A joke was made that all five cheftestants should travel to the new location for the final episodes. Inconceivable! However, it happened! The judges admitted that they were unable to single out a dish which would cause someone to be eliminated — so they invited all five cheftestants to go to the Bahamas. Huh, go figure.

Happy Birthday Wishes
Today is the birthday of one of my long-time Atlanta friends Sandy. Sandy is part of the “Turner Kids” with whom I used to hang out with regularly back in the olden days. I ran into Sandy (and her elder lad) a few weeks ago in Publix and it was great to see her. Happy birthday, friend.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – trying
Current Music – listening to this week’s “MacBreak Weekly” podcast regarding the iPad 2 announcement
Website Of The DayJudgmental Bookseller Ostrich (thanks ITP-Reader Terri). Some days I just need an escape from reality.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – can’t get to work
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – don’t care

Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Pushups – 0
Situps – 0
Stairs – 0 flights

Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 0 (0)

Vegetarian Days – 0
Carnivorous Days – 2

Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0

March Goals
– Recover from the bike crash
– Not to get sick for the entire month
– Not get fired from my job
– Run
– Lose two pounds
Go out on a date with someone else
– Read an entire book, specifically Chef’s Story

2011 Goals [will be a little more fluid than in past years]
– Reduce my weight by 25 pounds based on the my weight as measured on February 1st
Completely read the book Daily Negations which I received as a Christmas gift.
– Run Sharpened Stone as a real business — one which does not get penalized.
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Attend at least one professional photography workshop
– Enter no fewer than three photographic competitions / gallery showings
– Ride in no fewer than five 50 mile or 50K bike rides
– Run in no fewer than two half-marathons
– Submit at least one application under the name “Sharpened Stone” to Apple’s iOS store

The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
– Eat smaller portions

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

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18 Responses to Forward Focusing

  1. Barb says:

    So, what did the doctor say? I’m guessing nothing you didn’t already know?

    Smallish crowd last night, but good times as always.

    So, since I don’t pay attention to these sorts of things, it does now have a camera?
    And – how much would a used iPad cost? How much does it cost per month to have service? Just wondering……… I think it would be cool to have, but not sure if I’d want to spend the money.

  2. Martha says:

    Yep, when you take a hard fall, your uninjured parts compensate for the injury and then they start to hurt from overuse. Been there, done that. If you can, stretch a little and then stretch some more.

    Speaking of stretching…I’m working extra hard on my calves, I’m getting just a touch of what I think is plantar fasciitis…tell tale symptom of heal pain first thing in the morning (especially Monday morning after a weekend of running) and pain when I first start running. So I’m stretching my calves twice a day and walking in my VFF to strengthen my feet. Hopefully, I catch this before it becomes a real problem.

    I’m home today but carless. Still, if you need anything I’m only a bike ride away. I’ll probably head to Kroger later, so let me know if you need something. I might bring your bike by when Jerry gets home if you’d like it.

  3. Paulie [eatl/ga] says:

    Some decent news. After much pressing and questioning the docs seem to think that it’s muscular. I have to return to my PCP on Friday (if anyone wants to volunteer to take me). Hopefully by then I will be able to go out to Tucker and get my accident report so that I can deliver it to the hospital.

    The iPad 2 will have two cameras, on front-facing for video conferencing, a better one on the back for video and still photography. Used prices will be coming down once more people transition to the new unit, though Apple products tend to hold their value a bit more than other makers. If you get the WiFi only version there is no monthly cost after purchase. If you buy the 3G version (like I did with the iPad 1) then you sign a contact with a provider like AT&T. I use my iPad multiple times a day (like now!) even before the wreck, so I have absolutely no regrets and no hesitation recommending iPads to others (even if I weren’t an Apple shareholder).

  4. Steve says:

    Martha, I had the same thing.. heal pain when I run. I “invested” in one of those contraptions you wear on your foot when you sleep. Has a piece of rigid plastic and some velcro straps and it keeps your foot bent to stretch out your achilles/hamstring/whatever.

    $26.99 at the Kroger (though I paid $33 at the CVS, dangen!)

    Paulie, you are definitely using muscles you don’t normally use, and torqued things you didn’t know you had in the crash. But this will pass soon.

    -FP

  5. Paulie [eatl/ga] says:

    Good points all. I have been trying to stretch as well as “use my leg” while walking with the crutches. I am also using Martha’s heating pad more, though I am finding the hip is a hard place to heat.

    Also upping the pain today are any coughs and sneezes which are contacting my aching muscles. Owie!

  6. Paulie [eatl/ga] says:

    And Martha, if you have free time later and would like to say hello then please come over with the bike when you get your car back. I don’t think that I *need* any thing from the grocery store. I will be finishing up the quiche tomorrow (what a great way it’s been to start my day) and I will be eating the last of the fruit this afternoon.

  7. Martha says:

    Tomorrow Friday? I might be able to take you. They will call me in the morning to let me know when they are going to show up with the shed. I don’t need to be here the whole time, just get them started.

    Actually, the pain when I run is in my arch (less common but still possible), the heal pain is only in the morning. Strange. I’ve also got a little arch support thing, I need to wear it when I run. It’s only my left foot (thankfully), the arch on my right foot is nice and normal, never a problem. My left side is a mess, low arch, torn ACL, its a little short due to my scoliosis…it’s a wonder I can even walk 😉

    Paulie, don’t forget the ice…as important, if not more than the heat (but I know, the heat feels soooo good).

  8. Barb says:

    BTW – now I’m wanting some quiche……..

  9. Paulie [eatl/ga] says:

    Tomorrow Friday, yes. I am flexible (ha!) because I can walk in to my doctor’s office, I don’t have to make an appointment.

    Doc advised heat over ice at this point. I think it’s less about the swelling and more about gettthe muscles to loosen up for stretching and healing.

  10. Paulie [eatl/ga] says:

    Make that “be a walk-in to my doctor’s office” and not “walk in to my doctor’s office” since I am still unable to walk.

  11. Martha says:

    Okay, I’ll let you know as soon as i hear something, hopefully we can go in the morning.

    Would those ‘icy hot patch’ things be helpful in heating up your hip? You’d be able to stick them right where it aches…

  12. Paulie [eatl/ga] says:

    Oh, you just reminded me that I bought hand-warming packets for the photography trip in January that I skipped.

  13. Steve says:

    And if you are finished using those hand warmers and still think they should have some life left, stick them in a ziplock bag and they’ll “turn off” after they use up all the air.

  14. Barb says:

    wow Steve – that is some good trivial knowledge…..

  15. Steve says:

    I think I just found it out by accident.. Sometimes the first ski run of the day needs a little help, but not for the rest.

  16. Paulie [eatl/ga] says:

    Well I’ll be darned. I would have never guess that.

  17. Jenka says:

    When you say, “camera,” are you talking about a still camera or a webcam? As I’ve mentioned before, my highest priority use of the iPad would be Skyping with the in-laws in Scotland, which requires a webcam, but I have no use for a still camera. Can’t wait to get my iPad 2 next week!

  18. Originally I never saw the need for either. I’ve never video conferenced and didn’t think it was such a big deal, that’s why I couldn’t understand people putting the iPad down for its lack of camera.

    I consented that a front-facing camera would be great for Skype/FaceTime, but still couldn’t figure out why people wanted a rear-facing camera. “Who would hold this tablet out to take a photo?” I’d think. Then today someone explained that in FaceTime you can switch cameras on the fly so if you are chatting with someone and want to show them something all you have to do is press a button rather than turn the whole iPad around.

    I still don’t know if I can justify buying one (right away). I’ll have to do some number crunching and figure out if it’s in the budget. Of course I’ll let everyone know if I do. 😉

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